Connector



June 13, 1939.

C. J LEMONT CONNECTOR Filed Aug. 20, 1957 m T N E V W.

ATTORNEY:

Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTOR Application August 20, 1937, Serial No. 160,033

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in connectors.

A connector embodying this invention generically comprises but four elements related to each other in such manner that they are always in operative relation regardless of whether or not they are in clamping relation to each other. When applied to an electrical conductor, the connector is virtually supported by the conductor and engaged thereabout in such manner as to utilize the conductor as an element serving as means of preventing rotation of the connector when clamping the same. In this manner, the connector parts and conductor cooperate to permil; the operator to use but one hand in applying and clamping the connector to a conductor while his other hand is free for other service.

An object is to provide for a connector having a bifurcated clamping bolt, a nut-supporting jaw attached to a retaining element which is slidable relative to the bolt and engageable with the bifurcated end of the bolt, thereby to define the limit of sliding movement of the retaining element in one direction and to permanently rotat- 5 ably connect the nut and supporting jaw with the bolt whether in clamping relation thereto or.

removed from the bolt.

A further object of this invention is to provide for the connector a retaining element which may be shaped from sheet metal and adapted to maintain proper alignment of the nut-supporting jaw relative to the bifurcated end of the bolt when the nut is supported in disengaged relation to the bolt.

Another object is to provide a connector comprising simple elements made of standard material, such as tubing, rods and sheet metal, necessitating a minimum number of operations in the manufacture and assembly of the several parts.

Other advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a connector embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same device taken at right angles relative to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fi 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Throughout the several views, like parts are identified by the same reference characters.

The connector herein disclosed comprises a wire-engaging bolt member or bifurcated sleeve 1 having an axial bore 1, a movable clamping jaw l8 having a shank portion I8A and clamping arms 22 projecting laterally from the shank portion and movable between the bifurcation, and a clamping nut 3 rotatable about the shank IBA. A retainer [0 is provided for supporting the nut 3 in spaced relation to the bolt when disconnected therefrom and comprises a flat arm por-- tion H which is bent at its lower end to form a retaining base 8 having ears 9 and is provided at its upper end with wing portions 6 bent into adjoining tubular sections which jointly comprise a plunger 2 slidable through the bore 1. As indicated in Fig. 2, the shank I8A on the movable jaw is provided with a riveting stud 2| which extends through the base 8 and is peened over to secure the retainer Ill and jaw l8 in rigid relation.

The plunger 2 is interposed between the bifurcations of the sleeve comprising a tubular element having a hexagonal head at its upperend and having the bifurcations threaded upon their exterior peripheries. The bifurcations provide a pair of slots diametrically related to the bore 1 in the wire-engaging member.

Preferably, the bore 1 is flat on one side and cylindrical on the other and the plunger 2 conforms substantially to the shape and dimension of the bore, thus permitting the bearing portions [4 of the plunger 2 to cooperate with the flat side of the bore and hold the jaw l8 in alignment with the slots 5. The fiat arm portion ll of the retainer I0 also conforms to and 00- K operates with the flat side of the bore 1 for holding the movable jaw l8 against rotative movement relative to the bolt and in alignment with the slots 5.

It will be noted that the tubular-shaped plunger 2, the retaining base 8, ears 9, and arm ll of the retainer Ill comprise a single sheet of metal which is cut in an elongated form with the arm ll acting as a permanent connecting element between the retainer base 8 and the tubular plunger 2.

The connecting arm II and the plunger 2 are in bearing relation to the sides of the bore 1 and slide relatively to the bifurcated member I. That is, the bearing side of the arm ll, together with the flat bearing portion M of the plunger 2, slide along the flattened side of the bore 1, and the rounded portions 6 of the plunger 2 slide along the cylindrically-shaped portion of the bore I.

A shoulder 4 is formed at the lowermost end of the bifurcation on the cylindrical side of the bore 1 and prevents the plunger 2 from being withdrawn from the bore at the bifurcated end of the sleeve I. The shoulder 4 may be formed by punching a depression in the end of the bifurcation after the plunger 2 has been inserted in the bore I.

The nut 3 is held in rotatable relation to the jaw I8 and its shank I8A by means of the ears 9 which extend diametrically beyond the threaded bore of the nut 3. As indicated, the shank [8A on the jaw I 8 is disposed immediately adjacent the arm II of the retainer and is thereby prevented from rotating upon the base 8.

When the connector is to be placed in use, a line conductor will be inserted in the slots 5 at the lower end of the member I and the plunger 2 will be brought into contact with the conductor. The member I will then be moved downwardly to position the conductor at the upper end of the slots 5. This movement will bring the bifurcated ends into contact with the nut 3. A leadoff conductor may then be inserted into the slots 5 laterally of the member I and the nut 3 threaded upon the bifurcations to draw the movable jaw I8 into the slots 5, and into clamping relation to the conductors.

The line conductor and lead-off conductor I have not been shown because it is believed that the manner of applying the connector is obvious. However, the co-pending application of Clarence J. Lemont and William D. Kyle, Serial No. 701,764, filed December 11, 1933, clearly illustrates the use of the type of connector disclosed herein.

In manufacturing the retaining portion I0, it is preferred to cut a fiat strip of metal to provide an arm portion I I, Wing portions 6 at one end of the strip, and ears 9 at the other end of the strip. The shape of the strip may then be completed by bending the wing portions 6 and base 8 to the shape shown in the drawing. The bolt member may be manufactured from hexagonal tubular material, the nut may be of standard manufacture, and the movable jaw may be forged or otherwise shaped from fiat bar metal. Thus we find that the connector disclosed herein may be manufactured from standard stock material.

The foregoing description discloses a connector comprising elements which may be manufactured and assembled at a minimum cost and which, when assembled, may be manipulated with one hand when placing the connector in engagement with a conductor and when clamping the connector into engagement therewith.

Although I have indicated a preferred manner of manufacturing the connector, it will be understood that the claims are interpreted liberally within the scope of my invention, except where such claims are specifically limited by obvious definitions. The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a connector comprising a bifurcated bolt having an axially disposed bore, a clamping nut, and a clamping jaw rotatably mounted on said nut and having a shank extending therethrough; a retainer comprising a flat strip of metal provided at one end with laterally extending wings forming a substantially closed loop reciprocally mounted in said bore, the other end of said strip being secured to said shank, said closed loop and bore being complementary and in part cylindrical and in part non-circular in transverse cross-section and stop means on one of the bifurcations of said bolt disposed in the path of movement of said loop and adjacent the end of said bifurcation.

2. In a connector comprising a bifurcated bolt having an axially disposed bore, a clamping nut, and a clamping jaw rotatably mounted on said nut and having a shank extending therethrough; a retainer comprising a flat strip of metal provided at one end with laterally extending wings forming a substantially closed loop reciprocally mounted in said bore, the other end of said strip including a base portion integral therewith and normal thereto secured to said shank, said base portion having laterally extending ears retaining said nut on said shank, said closed loop and bore being complementary and in part cylindrical and in part non-circular in transverse cross-section, and stop means on one of the bifurcations of said bolt disposed in the path of movement of said loop and adjacent the end of said bifurcation.

3. In a connector comprising a bifurcated bolt, a clamping nut, and a clamping jaw rotatively secured to the nut; a retainer comprising a single piece of sheet metal having an arm portion, a pair of lateral projecting wings at one end bent to form a substantially closed loop, and a bent portion at the other end disposed at right angles to the arm and having ears projecting laterally therefrom, said closed loop being reciprocal in said bolt and said bent portion being secured to said clamping jaw, and stop means on one of the bifurcations of said bolt disposed in the path of movement of said loop and adjacent the end of said bifurcation.

CLARENCE J. LEMONT. 

